To think if you're invited to someone's house to eat...

[WynkenBlynken]

... they cater for you?

About 4 years ago I decided to only eat halal meat. My mum has always provided me with a veggie option if we go there, and more recently (since my DD has been weaned) she has bought halal meat for us (for which I am extremely grateful for, and make sure she knows this).

However this year we have been to 5 bbq's/meals where me and my DD (16 months) have either had to bring our own food or have gone without the main part of the meal.

The first time we were at my friends and we went hungry, the second time (at another friends) I called ahead, just to be on the safe side, and was told I'd have to bring my own food as they didn't have anything for us. This happened another time and then again at my sisters where she invited us for a roast but was told to bring my own chicken!

I genuinly don't know if I'm being unreasonable or not?! The only reason I ask is because we are going to my sisters for a bbq at the weekend and I just know I will have to bring my own again.

I probably should add that all my close friends and family have known about this from when I made the decision to change and I am more than happy to eat veggie food as I do not expect anyone to buy us halal meat, but just think that a veggie alternative should be offered... shouldn't it?!

I always make sure I cater for any guests I invite to my house, as I thought that was the done thing? I'd be mortified if someone had to bring their own food to my house!

If you all think I'm being unreasonable then I will accept that, I just want to know what your views/experiences are?

I am muslim, and I have to say that I have never been to dinner expecting there to be halal meat unless we were going to a muslim persons house. So I think YABU. As long as they are providing something veggie I think they are fine.

I also have a mixed family. When we go to DH's parents my primary concern is that MIL does not accidently put a ham stock cube in the food (Ham apparently isn't pork - but thats a whole other thread). While at their house I have two concerns: 1. don't feed us pork / alcohol 2. don't put something in the food which can make me ill (I have serious food allergies).

In the same way when MIL comes to visit, she likes a fry up in the morning but she knows she can't have bacon/ pork sausage etc so she has what she is able to have in our house eg halal lamb sausage. She also likes a big drink and knows she can't have that at our house. Obviously when we visit her we don't put limits on her drinking.

Tigerbomb I think it would be understood that the meat is halal in my home. If someone wanted clarification or wanted to be veggie for that meal then I would accommodate them.

You're very welcome, Wilson

Upthread dickie surprised me by saying that meat from Waitrose, where I shop, is halal anyway. A bit of googling finds some DM hysteria but then a statement from Waitrose claiming that all of their meat and poultry is non-halal with the exception of some lamb.
I wonder if the same applies to other supermarkets named as selling halal meat- would be genuinely interested. A labelling scheme would be very helpful.
OP- if you simply say you're veggie then YANBU to expect to be catered for. I might try to find halal meat for a friend but it would be much easier to get my head around veggie options TBH. Even on this thread you can see lots of confusion about what halal is.

YANBU. If I invite people round for a meal I provide a meal that caters to whatever dietary restrictions they have/choices they have made. If I like someone enough to invite them to my home for a meal I like them enough to make sure it will be an enjoyable experience for them. If I can't be bothered to do this I would either not invite them or keep it to "drinks and nibbles".